Reclaim Your Strength: Simple At-Home Exercise for Cancer Patients & Survivors

Whether you're in the middle of treatment or years into survivorship, your movement and strength are foundational to both the length and quality of your life. Oncology physical therapist Dr. Leslie Waltke breaks down a simple, targeted exercise you can do right at home no gym required, no marathon training necessary.

Meet Dr. Leslie Waltke

Dr. Leslie Waltke is a Doctor of Physical Therapy specializing in oncology rehabilitation. Her work focuses on helping cancer patients and survivors at every stage of their journey from active treatment to long-term survivorship regain their strength, balance, and mobility through safe, evidence-informed movement.

Why Movement Matters More Than You Think

Dr. Waltke makes one thing clear from the start: movement matters for everyone, whether you're in your 20s or your 80s. And counterintuitively, the more challenged you are the weaker you feel, the more treatment you're receiving, or the sicker you are the more critical these exercises become. This isn't about pushing through pain or chasing performance goals. It's about reclaiming function, steadying your balance, and feeling powerful in your own skin again.

The Wall Push-Up

This featured exercise is the wall push-up, a simple but effective move that builds upper back and chest strength essential for posture, daily function, and overall stability. To perform it, find a stable wall or door that won't move, and place your hands slightly below chest level at roughly a 45-degree angle. Stand at a comfortable distance from the wall, then lower your nose toward the wall while keeping your body in a straight line, and push back out to the starting position. If it feels too challenging, simply step closer to the wall to reduce the difficulty. Aim for 5 to 10 repetitions to start, and as you grow stronger, work your way up to 15 to 30 reps.

How to Progress Over Time

Dr. Waltke recommends a clear progression path as the exercise becomes easier. Once you've mastered the wall push-up at 30 repetitions, move to a countertop, which is lower and adds more challenge, targeting the same 15 to 30 rep range. From there, half push-ups on your knees on the floor offer an even greater challenge and continue building both upper back and chest strength.

How Often Should You Do It?

When it comes to frequency, Dr. Waltke advises that if the exercise feels challenging, aim to do it four to five times per week using 5 to 15 repetitions per session until your strength improves. Once it starts to feel easier, scaling back to two to three times per week is the general recommendation for maintaining and continuing to build strength. The key is consistency small, regular efforts compound into real, lasting results.

Who This Is For

This content is built for cancer patients and survivors of all ages and fitness levels, whether you're currently in treatment or well into your survivorship journey. Follow along on here on CURE as Dr. Waltke shares exercises to help you move better, feel stronger, and live fuller.

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